Fans all over the world expressed their disappointment towards New Line Cinema’s decision to remove Peter Jackson from directing “The Hobbit” on fan forums they are not expected to just leave this critcal topic go by.
According to Chris Pirrotta, co-founder of TheOneRing.net where Peter Jackson’s letter to the fans was published, the site has received over 100,000 visitors since the letter has been posted, high above the usual number of 15,000 per day they usually get.
“They are very upset,” Pirrotta told Reuters. “We are seeing calls for everything from letter writing campaigns to a boycott of the studio.”
Despite the fact that nearly $3 billion dollars were made from “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, the director who was initially going to direct a possible screening of “The Hobbit,” said last week a top executive with Los Angeles-based New Line Cinema called him to say the studio was moving ahead on “The Hobbit” without him. It might have to do with the fact that Jackson is suing New Line Cinema for over $100 million unpaid dues to him.
Being the curtious and respectful man that he is , Jackson wrote a letter to the fans be cause he felt that they needed to truly undetstand the course of events that took everyone by suprice.
In summary, this is what he wrote:
“You cannot be in a relationship with a film studio, making a complex, expensive movie and dealing with all the pressures and responsibilities that come with the job, while an unresolved lawsuit exists,” his letter wrote adding that a decision to make the movie should come from the heart, otherwise the film is “doomed.”
“Given that New Line are committed to this course of action, we felt at the very least, we owed you, the fans, a straightforward account of events as they have unfolded for us,” Jackson wrote.
With hopes the Tolkien franchise will sell itself, the studio is now searching for a new director , however, many fans believe this will trigger many conflicts considering the actors might have something to say as well.
“TheOneRing.net and the entire Tolkien community spent the last day reacting to the jaw-dropping letter we received from Peter Jackson concerning ‘The Hobbit’.”
This entire incident raises the oldest and greatest paradox in the world of art and artists: Do you create art for your intellectaul appeasement, or for profit, and when you are fully appeased with your work do you continue to produce your wokr of art eventough it is not truly your passion and you simply do it for the profits. Has Jackson reached an apex in his work? Did he quit the movie because he did not get his money, or because he is a man of prinicple and actaully cares about his passion and art?